The White Chapel

The original White Chapel, which gave its name to the area, was the first church to stand on what is now Altab Ali Park. Built in 1250 it was a simple, lime washed, stone rubble chapel that remained standing until 1286.

In 1329, the chapel was rebuilt and named St Mary Matfelon. Over the next 500 years the church was enlarged, encompassed different styles and was rebuilt at least three more times. During this period it is estimated that several thousand burials took place in the churchyard, including Richard Brandon who is believed to have been the executioner of King Charles I.

In 1857, the churchyard was so full that burials had to be stopped. The grounds reopened as a Metropolitan Public Park, in the 1880s.

During The Blitz of 1940 the church was hit by incendiary bombs which gutted the building. It remained derelict, becoming more unstable. This was exacerbated in 1952 when lightning hit the church, splitting the tower, resulting in the building being demolished the same year. The churchyard was renovated and reopened, in 1666, as St Mary's Gardens.

In 1994 the gardens were renamed Altab Ali Park to commemorate Altab Ali, a 24-year old leather worker who was murdered on May 4, 1978. A path through the centre of the park has letters that spell out 

"The shade of my tree is offered to those who come and go fleetingly".

Archaeological digs, which began in 2010, uncovered the remains of two churches, dating from the 17th and 19th century. Buttons, clay pipes, fragments of plates and pots were also discovered, along with a piece of a Roman urn. The old Roman road that went between London and Colchester runs alongside the park and is now known as Whitechapel High Street.

The 17th century church, built in 1673, was built in a neo-classical 'Roman' style, while the 19th century church, built in 1875, was built in the Gothic style. This latter church had an open-air pulpit, the site of which is now marked in the park with a Lebanon tree. 

The raised walkway traces the path of the 19th century church, while the stone plinths mark the walls of the earlier churches.

Timeline

• AD 70s: The Romans build a road from London to Colchester
• 604: The area becomes part of the Kingdom of Essex
• 1250-1286: The first church is built on the site
• 1280s: Metal working foundries are in abundance close to the site
• 1329: The original chapel is rebuilt as St Mary Matfelon
• 1600s: Horse skinning, tanning and horn working operate in the area
• 1649: Richard Brandon is buried in the churchyard
• 1673: St Mary's church is rebuilt in red brick in the neo-classical 'Roman' style
• 1690s: French Huguenot refugees arrive in the East End
• 1718: Si John Cass, an educational philanthropist, is buried in the graveyard
• 1743: A Huguenot church is opened on Brick Lane
• 1855: The London Burial Act is passed
• 1875: St Mary's church is rebuilt in the Gothic style
• 1880: St Mary's church is damaged by fire, so it is demolished and rebuilt from scratch
• 1884: Toynbee Hall is founded by Samuel and Henrietta Barnett
• 1886: The Freedom Press is founded in Whitechapel
• 1898: John Passmore Edwards opens the Whitechapel Library
• 1898: The Huguenot church becomes a Jewish Synagogue
• 1901: John Passmore Edwards opens the Whitechapel Gallery
• 1900s: A small community Bengali seamen are living in the area
• 1940: St Mary's church is hit by an incendiary bomb, during The Blitz
• 1941: The East London Mosque is inaugurated
• 1950s: Following world war II more economic migrants arrive
• 1952: The derelict St Mary's church tower is struck by lightning
• 1966: The churchyard is opened as St Mary's Gardens
• 1976: The Brick Lane Mosque opens in the old Huguenot church
• 1978: Altab Ali is murdered while on his way home
• 1978: The foundation of the anti racist youth movement
• 1978: St Mary's Gardens becomes a rallying point for demonstrations
• 1985: The East London Mosque moves to a purpose built building
• 1994: St Mary's Gardens is renamed Altab Ali Park
• 1999: Shaheed Minar Monument commemorating the Bengali Language Martyrs is built
• 2010: Archeological digs begin in the park
• 2010: Altab Ali Park is renovated